Churches and communities were encouraged to become involved in the struggle to combat deadly gang culture at a conference organised by the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Street Pastors in central London on 4 July.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain is joining forces with the Ascension Trust, the group behind the Street Pastors initiative for a second second 'Bite the Bullet' conference on tackling youth gang violence.

Two senior clergy, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds and the Chair of the Methodist District will come face to face with the renowned nightlife of Leeds when they spend an evening with police officers and a team of church volunteers on the city centre streets this coming Friday night at the launch of a new initiative.

Christians across all London's 33 boroughs, including many from the Black Majority Churches, are coming together for a Week of Peace which will look at practical community-based methods for reducing violence throughout the capital.

Church leaders in Manchester are calling a meeting with community leaders and other agencies to discuss what many see as a worrying growth of gun crime in the region. But the issue remains one of credibility and practical alternatives